The future GM products are invisible here (like Chevy Bolt sales) but they are mostly trucks and crossovers in the U.S.
General Motors will begin reporting its U.S. vehicle sales on a quarterly basis starting with second quarter sales, which will be released on 3 July 2018. Q3 sales are due 2 October and Q4 sales on 3 January 2019. The question is will other major auto companies follow by killing the long-standing, perhaps outdated, ritual hated by executives and media alike?
“Thirty days is not enough time to separate real sales trends from short-term fluctuations in a very dynamic, highly competitive market,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “Reporting sales quarterly better aligns with our business, and the quality of information will make it easier to see how the business is performing.”
In the auto industry as in others, monthly sales are subject to volatility issues greater than quarterly sales, including new product launches, weather – global warming altered or not, other seasonal factors, the number of selling days, employment levels, the cost of money, and incentive activity.
GM says its high level of transparency on total, brand and nameplate sales, fleet mix and inventory will not change. The company will also continue sharing J.D. Power PIN estimates for incentive spending and average transaction prices.
